The “Budo Beat” Blog features a collection of short reflections, musings, and anecdotes on a wide range of budo topics by Professor Alex Bennett, a seasoned budo scholar and practitioner. Dive into digestible and diverse discussions on all things budo—from the philosophy and history to the practice and culture that shape the martial Way.

A couple of weeks ago I had the welcome chance to speak to a group of high school students at Shijonawate High School in Osaka. My old kendo mate George McCall invited me down for a full afternoon of talking to his pupils, doing keiko with the kendo club, and then heading to the second dojo for the usual rehydration session.

I have not stood in front of a younger audience for quite some time, so in the hours leading up to it, I found myself wondering what on earth I should talk about. University students are one thing. After years of watching the “three Ss” dominate the classroom, I have grown used to the sight of Sleeping, Speaking, and Smartphones forming a perfect triangle of distraction, something that I vehemently discourage, but to little avail these days.

I sometimes joke that I should bring a defibrillator to class, not for emergencies, but simply to jolt some bloody life back into the room! I really do despair, and oftentimes catch myself wondering if I have quietly drifted into the role of a relic who can’t speak the native tongue of modern youth. Sometimes I blame myself, but lately I have started to give in to the idea that trying to inspire “too cool for school vacant minds” is like trying to light a barbecue in a typhoon. I know it sounds terrible, but that’s honestly how it feels some days.

So I walked into this high school fretting that I would be met with a younger version of the same dreary lethargy. What I found was the complete opposite!

These kids were switched on. Not in the sense of polished confidence or loud enthusiasm, but in the quiet, searching way that tells you they WANT to understand something. They WANT direction. They WANT a spark. They simply have no idea where to find it, and even less idea of how to hold onto it once it flickers.

In my little talk, I fell back on what I know: the lessons I have learned from budo. Most of them had never picked up a shinai in their life, but that didn’t matter. Budo wisdom does not need to be limited to people in dojos. It lives in the rhythms of daily life, in the ways we face challenges, and in the things we choose to care about. To my surprise, the stories, ideas, and scars I shared actually seemed to have real traction.

The framework of the talk was five keywords I have lived my life by: kōkishin (好奇心 = curiosity), yūki (勇気 = courage), jōnetsu (情熱 = passion), reidan jichi (冷暖自知 = you only know something when you feel it yourself), and zanshin (残心 = continued vigilance). They sit at the centre of my own michi (道 = Way), and the students’ positive reactions reminded me that these ideas still speak to young people who feel lost in an age of information overload.

These five steps are hardly a secret formula for life, but they seem to anchor me when I’m struggling to find direction. I suspected that may provide some good life clues for the young crowd. Especially in the last two years, as education drifts through this odd post Covid period of online fatigue and emotional flatlining, I have noticed a quiet hunger for something they can actually grab hold of, even if they have no idea how to start. Something real, not theoretical. Something that gets a young person moving again, rather than just blinking at a screen.

Curiosity was the first point. The spark. I told them how everything I have done in my life, good and otherwise, started from simply wanting to know what was around the corner. That little itch in the mind that says, “Why not have a look, mate.” Curiosity, so they say, has killed more than a few cats. But it was curiosity that carried me into a kendo dojo for the first time, unable to speak a word of Japanese, sweating with nerves, and very nearly turning around at the door. It was also curiosity that kept me coming back, even after realising that kendo involved an impressive amount of pain, confusion, and being hit on the head. If anything resonated with them there, it was that curiosity is not a trait you are born with. It is a habit. Feed it, and it grows. Ignore it, and life becomes very small, very quickly.

Courage came next, framed not as “fearlessness”, but as the willingness to do something despite your knees shaking. Teenagers know fear better than most adults care to admit. They live in a world where the possibility of embarrassment is often more terrifying than injury. Taking the first step into the unknown is perhaps harder now than it has ever been, because the digital world records every misstep. I told them that courage does not mean being unafraid. It means feeling fear and moving anyway. That is the difference between watching from the safety of your seat and actually getting up to have a go, even if that little negative voice is protesting the whole way.

But the word that truly struck them was PASSION. You can see it in the feedback they sent afterwards. Many wrote that “passion” felt like the missing piece in their lives. Not in the romantic or dramatic sense, but in the simple idea that cultivating passion gives shape to one’s days. Most of us mistake passion for a bolt of lightning, a sudden revelation that arrives fully formed. The truth is far more mundane. Passion is something you nurture. It is the force that keeps you practising when everything hurts. It is the reason you return after defeat. It is the steady warmth under the ash that keeps you alive long after the excitement has faded.

I told them that liking something is easy, but continuing through the uncomfortable parts is where passion becomes real. In budo, passion is not the fire of the flashy moment, but the stubborn ember that survives the rain. Judging by their comments, this struck a nerve. They seemed relieved to hear that passion does not need to be dramatic. It only needs to be honest.

From there I moved to reidan jichi the Zen idea that you only truly understand something when you feel it yourself. The literal meaning of reidan jichi is “Cold and warm are known by oneself.” In other words, you can only know what is cold or warm by actually feeling it on your own skin. It symbolises the broader idea that true understanding comes through personal experience, not through someone else’s words.

There is no shortcut. You can read books and watch YouTube videos until you’re blue in the face, but unless you step into the experience, you learn nothing of substance. Failure, pain, embarrassment, and small victories are all valuable teachers. These students live at a time when second-hand experience is everywhere, but the lived kind is slipping out of reach. In addition to passion, encouraging them to trust their own senses felt like one of the most important messages of the day.

Finally, zanshin. The awareness after the action. In budo, it is the posture of the heart after the strike. In life, it is the quiet habit of reflecting on what you have done, acknowledging the gap between intention and reality, and resetting for the next moment, keeping that continuity going. Zanshin does not judge. It simply prepares. I told them that if they can hold themselves accountable in those moments after the dust settles, they will already be far ahead of most adults.

After the talk, the school sent through the students’ feedback. I added all of it to the end of this blogpost to give the reader an idea of how keen these young lads and lasses are. Reading through their comments, I was struck by how genuine they felt. I expected a bit of routine politeness, but the responses were thoughtful, personal, and in some cases surprisingly sharp. At least, I hope it isn’t lipservice!

Some said they saw their own past decisions reflected in the stories. Others wrote that they had never thought about curiosity or courage in this way before. Quite a few wrote that passion suddenly made sense as something they could build, not something they lacked. It was heartening. Not in the sentimental sense, but because in my profession of teaching at college level it is rare to see young people respond so openly about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.

I guess they were ready for these ideas. They just needed something to press the right pressure points. My hope is that the five keywords stay with them for a while. Not as handy slogans blurted by that preachy gaijin, but as companions that guide their choices as they start shaping their own michi.

But methinks I was the one who stole the richer lesson from the whole affair. These students, despite growing up in a world that often seems held together with duct tape and wishful thinking, showed me that, deep down, the hunger for meaning is still very much alive. They also reminded me of something teachers often forget, and something that is just as important in budo as it is in any classroom: it is not only students who must adapt. Teachers, too, have to adjust their angle, loosen their grip, and rethink the way they offer guidance. If we don’t evolve, neither will they. All they needed was someone to hand them a few threads so they could start weaving their Way, and the whole thing rather embarrassingly taught me not to give up on the little blighters just yet, even if I was never that way myself and still struggle to summon empathy when a firm [metaphorical] kick up the arse feels like the more efficient option. Oops.

(Student comments right at the bottom)

This Book Needs a Home!

Reference just for skimming through if you’re interested in their take. (I added English translations to the original Japanese comments.)

Entry 1
たくさんの苦労を経験してきたアレック先生から自分の人生の新たな出会いに対する向き合い方を詳しく学べてとても興味深いものであった！

It was very interesting to learn in detail from Alex, who has experienced many hardships, how to approach new encounters in life.

Entry 2
剣道を通して好奇心、勇気、情熱、冷暖自知、残心をわかりやすく、これからの生き方について詳しく知ることができた

Through kendo, I was able to understand curiosity, courage, passion, reidan jichi, and zanshin in an easy to grasp way, and I learned a lot about how to live from now on.

Entry 3
情熱が全ての原動力になるということを、講演を聞きながら自分の過去を振り返って感じました。人生が楽しくなりそうです。

As I listened to the lecture and reflected on my past, I felt that passion is the driving force behind everything. It made me feel that life might become more enjoyable.

Entry 4
人生において大切なものを知れたような気がする。Passionを大切にしていきたい。

I feel as though I learned what is important in life. I want to value passion.

Entry 5
私も今のうちからどんなことにも挑戦しようと日々新しいを探してはその世界に飛び込んで行っています。この講義を聞けて本当に良かったと思いますし、道の話も剣道の話もとても印象深かったです。先生の生き様に尊敬の意を感じました。

I try to challenge myself in many ways by seeking out new things every day and diving into those worlds. I am really glad I could hear this lecture and both the stories about the path and about kendo were very memorable. I felt great respect for the way you live your life.

Entry 6
将来の夢とか決まっていないけど、好奇心旺盛にいろんなことに興味持って見つけていこうと思った、

I have not decided on a future dream yet, but I felt I should follow my strong curiosity and discover many interests.

Entry 7
本日はご講演いただきありがとうございました。お話の中で、パッションが大切だということがあり、それを見つけるために私は色々なことに挑戦し、動いていきたいと思います。

Thank you very much for today’s lecture. You said that passion is important, so I want to challenge many things and keep moving in order to find mine.

Entry 8
本日は貴重な講演をありがとうございました。何にでも興味を持ち、情熱をもってひたむきに取り組み続けるというサイクルが大切だということがよくわかりました。自分の好奇心の思うままに、何にでも挑戦していきたいと思いました。

Thank you for the valuable lecture today. I learned clearly that the cycle of being interested in something, pursuing it with passion, and continuing wholeheartedly is very important. I want to challenge anything that sparks my curiosity.

Entry 9
ご講演ありがとうございました。
どのお話もほんとに生きる上でためになるようなとても大切な考え方、感じ方だなと思いました。自分は昔からネガティブで常にマイナス思考なのですが、今日の講演を受けて、自分にはもっと勇気とパッションが必要だなと思いました。本当に有意義な時間を過ごせました。ありがとうございました！

Thank you for the lecture. Every story you told felt like an essential way of thinking for living life. I have always been negative and tend to think pessimistically, but after today’s lecture I realised I need more courage and passion. It was truly meaningful. Thank you very much.

Entry 10
自分が日頃感じていた悩みがとっても小さいことのように感じるような素晴らしい講演でした。たくさんの素晴らしい言葉にも出会うことができて貴重な体験をさせていただいたなと思います。

The worries I usually have felt very small after hearing your talk. I came across many wonderful words and felt it was a valuable experience.

Entry 11
今回のご講演を聞いて、新しいことや怖いなと思うことにも挑戦していこうと感じました。特に印象に残っているのは若い時流さぬ汗は老いてのち涙となっていづるものなりという言葉です。今取り組まないと後々後悔してしまうこともあると感じたので、情熱を持って好きなことに取り組みたいと思いました。
大変勉強になるご講演をありがとうございました。

After hearing your lecture, I felt I should challenge myself in new or frightening things. What impressed me was the phrase Sweat not shed in youth becomes tears in old age. I realised that if I do not commit now, I may regret it later, so I want to pursue what I love with passion. Thank you for such an educational lecture.

Entry 12
2日間で3回の公演に参加したうちで最後の講演でしたが、最高でした。1番響きました。1番心が動きました。自分のパッションは何なのかを引き出してくれて、本当にいい経験になりました。自分でも何かできるんじゃないか、という勇気を与えてくれました。

This was the last of the three lectures I attended over two days and it was the best. It resonated with me the most. It moved my heart the most. You helped draw out what my own passion might be. It was a wonderful experience that gave me courage to feel that maybe I can achieve something too.

Entry 13
アレック先生の色々な話を聞いていて、これから将来を決める中で大切なこと、パッションが大切であることを教えてもらって、自分の進路につなげていこうと思った。これからもアレック先生の教えを心に刻んで自分の道を進んでいきたい。

Listening to your stories, I learned what is important when thinking about my future, that passion truly matters. I want to connect what I learned to my future path, keep your teachings in mind, and walk my own way.

Entry 14
留学にはパッションがあるかどうかが重要であるという話を聞いて、私もオーストラリア研修があるのでパッションをもって積極的に取り組みたいと思いました。何かはじめて続けるにはパッションが大切だとわかりました。今の自分のパッションをもっとおおきくしたいです

Hearing that passion is essential for studying abroad made me think about my upcoming Australia program. I want to tackle it proactively with passion. I learned that passion is crucial for starting and continuing anything. I want to grow the passion I have now even more.

Entry 15
情熱をたくさん持つようにしようと思いました。また、日本の文化には生きるうえで大切な指針がたくさん含まれているため、もっと知っていこうと思いました。

I felt I should try to have more passion. I also realised that Japanese culture contains many guiding principles important for life, so I want to learn more about it.

Entry 16
人生において大切なことを分類して、はっきりと言葉で表していただいたおかげで、これまで疑問だったことが解消された気がします。好奇心から行動がうまれ、行動から情熱が生まれるという流れを今日覚えることができました。手始めに、今日は家に帰ってすぐに勉強を始めようと思います。

By classifying what is important in life and expressing it clearly, you helped resolve many questions I had. I learned the flow curiosity leads to action and action leads to passion. As a start, I will go home and begin studying immediately today.

Entry 17
継続が苦手なので今日習ったことを踏まえて色々なことに挑戦し継続できるようにしていきたいです

Since I am not good at continuing things, I want to challenge myself in various ways and work on improving my consistency based on what I learned today.

Entry 18
これからの人生で好奇心を持って色々なことを試して勇気を持って続けてみて自分にとってのパッションを見つけれたらいいなと思いました

I want to maintain curiosity, try many things, and continue with courage to discover my own passion in life.

Entry 19
すごくためになるお話でした。私もパッションを持って様々なことに取り組みたいと思いました。

Your talk was extremely meaningful. I also want to take on many things with passion.

Entry 20
すばらしい講演をありがとうございました！これからパッションを持って人生を歩もうと思いました。また最後に言っていた言葉を心に刻もうと思います！

Thank you for the wonderful lecture. I want to live my life with passion from now on. I will also keep your final words firmly in my heart.

Entry 21
先生のお話の中で情熱が大切だと何回もお話しされてるのを聞いて、本当に大事なことなんだなと思った。また、日本語が本当にお上手だったなと感じた

Hearing you repeatedly say that passion is important made me realise how essential it is. I also felt your Japanese was excellent.

Entry 22
焦らなくてもいい、何でもいいから情熱を持てという言葉に感銘をうけました。

I was deeply moved by the words You do not have to rush, anything is fine, just have passion.

Entry 23
自分のやりたいことを決めるのは楽しいや好奇心､自分が興味のわいたことを大事にしようと感じた。剣道の心得はどの物事にも通じるということが知れた。

I realised that deciding what you want to do comes from enjoyment and curiosity and that valuing what interests you is important. I learned that the spirit of kendo applies to everything in life.

Entry 24
一年間だけの剣道だったはずが、気付けば自分の人生を変えるほどまでになったいて、アレック先生の言っていたとおり今焦る必要はないのだろうけど、今まさに人生を決めている最中なんだと言う実感が湧きました。

I only intended to do kendo for one year but before I knew it, it had changed my life. As you said, there is no need to rush now but I also felt vividly that I am right in the middle of making decisions that will shape my life.

Entry 25
passionの大切さを知りたくさんのことに挑戦していきたいと思った

I learned the importance of passion and felt I want to challenge many things.

Entry 26
自分もパッションについて考えようと思った

I thought I should reflect on my own passion too.

Entry 27
自分のパッションは何か、という問いの答えはこれからの人生で常に探し求めなければならないと感じました。とにかくチャレンジ精神を大切にして、多くの経験を積んでいきたいです。

I felt that the question What is your passion is something I must keep asking myself throughout life. I want to value a spirit of challenge and gain many experiences.

Entry 28
情熱を持って取り組んで行くことの大切さなどについて分かった。

I understood the importance of working on things with passion.

Entry 29
好奇心で始めて情熱で続けるという言葉がとてもかっこいいと思った。

The phrase Begin with curiosity and continue with passion sounded very cool to me.

Entry 30
とても楽しい公演でした。初めて剣道場へ行ったときの感想が正直で面白かったです。私も高校から剣道を始めたのですが、アレックス先生の時のように厳しくはないですが、同じように竹刀で叩かれて痛かったりなど共感する部分を多くありました。これからもパッションを持って頑張りたいと思います。

It was a very enjoyable lecture. Your honest impressions from when you first visited a kendo dojo were amusing. I also began kendo in high school. It was not as strict as your experience but I related to being struck with shinai and feeling pain. I want to continue working hard with passion.

Entry 31
剣道やその考え、生き方など多くの勉強になることを知ることができて、とてもためになりました。自分なりの道を見つけるために今の生き方、状況を今一度振り返ってみようと思いました。

I learned a lot about kendo, its philosophy, and its way of life. It was very meaningful. To find my own path, I want to reflect again on how I am living now.

Entry 32
私達ずっと日本にいる身とは違ったグローバルな視点で日本の伝統文化である剣道を元にした人生観を聞くことができてとても良かったです。全く違った道のようで、どこか自分達とも共通点のあるとても興味深いお話で進路を考えるにあたってのヒントとなりました。

It was great to hear a worldview based on kendo from a global perspective. It felt like a different path yet strangely relatable. It was a hint for thinking about my future.

Entry 33
人生は好奇心から始まり、進んでみる勇気と続けるパッションをもって経験を積み、残心で深める一つの道でできていることが感じられました。

I felt that life is one path made of curiosity, the courage to move forward, the passion to continue, and deepening everything with zanshin.

Entry 34
何事にも情熱を持つことの大切さを感じた

I felt the importance of having passion in everything.

Entry 35
剣道用語の「打って反省打たれて感謝」という言葉が印象に残っています。私もこの言葉のように、自分が情熱を感じられることに対して常に高みを目指していきたいです。

The kendo phrase Strike and reflect, be struck and feel gratitude left a strong impression on me. Like that phrase, I want to always aim higher in whatever I feel passionate about.

Entry 36
モチベーションの作り方について言語化できなかったからいい機会になりました

This lecture helped put into words how to build motivation, which I had never been able to do before.

Entry 37
講演の中で、苦労しながら生きることを大切にするという話があり、自分もそれは大事だなと感じた。また、自分の情熱をどこに注ぎ込むかということは自分の人生の中で変わっても良いということが印象に残った。生きていく上で何かヒントを得られた気がして面白かった。

I learned the importance of valuing hardships in life. I also realised that what we pour our passion into can change throughout life. I gained hints for living and found it fascinating.

Entry 38
「若い時流さぬ涙は老いてのち涙となりて出づるものなり」という鶴丸先生のお言葉で一度きりの人生を後悔しないように生きようと思いました。

Hearing the words Tears not shed in youth will flow in old age made me want to live without regrets.

Entry 39
Passionを大切に自分の道を歩んでいこうと思った。

I want to walk my own path while valuing passion.

Entry 40
英語を学ぶ点で、留学してそこで英語を学ぶだけでなく、その後の自分の好きなことをするなかで現地の人との会話が大切になってくるということに納得した。

I realised that studying abroad is not only about learning English but also about talking with local people while doing what you love.

Entry 41
今まで何かをするのに恐怖がブレーキになっていたけど、その恐怖を持って進んでいく気持ちでたくさんのことに挑戦していきたいと思った。失敗を怖がってやめたくなることもあるけど、それでも続けることの大切さが改めて分かった。

Fear had always been a brake on doing things but now I want to challenge many things while feeling that fear and still moving forward. I realised again that even when I want to quit because of fear of failure, continuing is important.

Entry 42
何事にも好奇心を持って行動していこうと思いました

I want to act with curiosity in everything.

Entry 43
先生の言葉一つ一つにこれからの人生で役立つこと、自分にとって大切なことがこもっていて、すごく感動した。今日紹介してもらった5つのキーワードを意識しながら生活してみたいと思う。

Your words carried many things that will be useful in my life. I was very moved. I want to live with the five keywords you introduced today in mind.

Entry 44
自分も後悔しないような選択をしたいと思ったし、色々なものに触れて興味のあるものを見つけたいと思った。

I want to make choices I will not regret and I want to encounter many things to discover what interests me.

Entry 45
興味を持ちそこに情熱をかけると継続できると言うことを聞いて失敗してもいいから挑戦することが大切と言う言葉が印象に残った。
I was impressed by the idea that interest and passion help us continue doing something. The words It is okay to fail, what matters is to try stayed with me.

Entry 46
よかった

It was good.

Entry 47
かっこよかった

It was cool.

Entry 48
好きは簡単続けるは本気という言葉がすごく響きました。とても良い講演で聞けて良かったです。

The phrase Liking something is easy, continuing it requires true commitment really resonated with me. I am glad I could hear such a good lecture.

Entry 49
自分の人生観にどはまりしていたいい講義で、道の歩み方を考えられました。ありがとうございました。

It was an excellent lecture that matched my own sense of life. It made me think about how to walk my own path. Thank you very much.

Entry 50
人生観というものは得てして自分以外のものを知る機会というのがないものなので、今回の講演で人生の先輩の生き方に関するような話を聞けたことはとてもいい経験になったと思っている。

We rarely have opportunities to learn others perspectives on life so hearing about how someone senior to us lives was a very good experience.

Entry 51
人生観が変わった

My view of life changed.

Entry 52
もう一度やり直せても同じことをするということがかっこよかった

The idea that you would make the same choices even if you could start over was really cool.

Entry 53
情熱を持つことが一番大切だと分かりました。残心の心を持ち、満足せずさらなる高みを目指すことの大切さを改めて感じました。日々の生活で大変なこともたくさんあるけど、好奇心と諦めない心を持って、今後の人生を後悔しないように生きていこうと思います。素晴らしい講演を本当にありがとうございました。

I learned that having passion is most important. I realised again the importance of zanshin, never being satisfied, and aiming higher. Life is difficult but I want to live without regrets.

Entry 54
人生を良くしていく上でとても大切な講義を受けることができて良かったです

I am glad I could attend such an important lecture for improving my life.

Entry 55
自分の情熱はなにかと講義中に質問されたとき、自分はとっさに答えられず話している間に考えてみたのですが、自分の情熱は友人などの人間関係かなと思いました。
一期一会といった言葉があるように人と関わる時間は長いものもあれば、非常に短いものもあります。そのため、今いる友人や師範、先輩方と関係を大切にしていきたいです。

When you asked what my passion is, I could not answer immediately but after thinking while listening, I realised my passion might be relationships with friends and others. Since time with people varies, I want to value the relationships I have now.

Entry 56
私は合気道部に所属しているので、道という観点では少し共通点を感じました。何事も初めは小さな好奇心から、当たり前のようでとても深いと思います。今回お話いただいた内容を心に留め、今後の人生を歩もうと思います。

As a member of the aikido club, I felt some connection in terms of the path. Everything starts with small curiosity and I want to walk my life keeping today’s talk in mind.

Entry 57
自分の中であった情熱の解釈を的確に言語化していて、自分のパッションを追求する基盤が固められました。

You put into words my own vague sense of passion and helped solidify the foundation for pursuing it.

Entry 58
5つのキーワードについて話していただくことで人生においての役に立ちそうな部分が沢山ありました。ありがとうございました

The five keywords you talked about gave me many insights useful for life. Thank you.

Entry 59
何事にも挑戦していく

Challenge everything.

Entry 60
自分の中でパッションって勢い！みたいなイメージだったけど、パッションを持って生きていくっていう話を聞いて、自分の認識を改めようと思いました。

I used to think passion meant energy but after hearing your talk, I realised I needed to reconsider what passion truly is.

Entry 61
剣道から学んでいた残心を自分の道に昇華して自分の道にしているのはとても素晴らしいことだと思った。私も興味と情熱を持って生きたいです

I thought it was wonderful how you transformed zanshin learned in kendo into your own life path. I also want to live with interest and passion.

Entry 62
今回は講演をしてくださっただけでなく、私の質問にも答えてくださり、本当にありがとうございました。今は自分の進路についてあやふやで不安なことばかりですが、先生の言う通り、とにかく将来の夢のために今しかできないことをどんどん積極的にしたいと思います。本日はありがとうございました。

Thank you very much not only for giving the lecture today but also for answering my questions. I am feeling uncertain and anxious about my future path, but as you said, I want to be proactive and make the most of the things I can only do now for the sake of my future dreams. Thank you again for today.